The Cross is loved and respected by millions of Christians across the world

The cross is seen as a representation of the crucifixion of Jesus, and is the best known symbol of Christianity. The cross-shaped symbol is formed by crossing two lines at right-angles.

The table below explores in greater detail the origins of the Christian Cross and how it came into being.

1
The Cross

In contemporary Christianity, the cross is a symbol of the atonement and reminds Christians of God's love in sacrificing his own son for humanity.

It represents Jesus' victory over sin and death, since it is believed that through his death and resurrection he conquered death itself.

2Tree or Cross?

The Greek word for "cross" is stau·rosʹ; this translates as an upright pale or stake.
In several texts, Bible writers use another word for the instrument of Jesus' death. It is the Greek word xyʹlon which means "timber, a stick, club or tree".

Therefore, according to the Greek text, Jesus was crucified on a Tree-like pole, and not a Cross. Not surprisingly, many English Bible versions read Jesus' crucifixion was on a Tree.

3Bible claims Tree

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
Acts 5:30

And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
Acts 10:39

And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.
Acts 13:29

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Galatians 3:13

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1Peter 2:24

4Type of Tree

The Bible points to hanging on a tree-like post.
The Crux Simplex (also known as a stipe, pole, post, stake and phallic symbol) was
used to crucify criminals in those days.

The Crux Simplex evolved from a tree dedicated to the Gods of the nether world

Type of tree: Infelix lignum/Arbor infelix

Non-fruit bearing

Unproductive with no value

Ideal for crucifying criminals

Trees were not everywhere available at the places chosen for public execution. So a simple beam was sunk into the ground. On this the outlaws, with hands raised upward and often also with their feet, were bound or nailed." A simple beam was sunk into the ground. The criminals hands were raised upward and were bound and nailed

For 300 years following Jesus' death, the Christians did not use the Cross in their worship. The Early Christians believed the cross symbol was a reminder of the torture used to crucify Jesus. The notion of torture, suffering and death were closely associated with pagan beliefs of the time.

After 300 years, attitudes changed and it was decided the suffering of Jesus was central to Christian doctrine. Suddenly, the Cross became the perfect symbol to identify with Jesus' pain and suffering.

In the 4th century, Constantine a pagan Emperor decided to establish Christianity across the Roman Empire and promoted the Cross as the official religious symbol.

After 6th century, the Crucifix (a cross with the image of Jesus) gained widespread acceptance.

The Tau Cross (T-shaped) was adopted to encourage Pagans to convert to Christianity.

The Tau Cross was brought into the Christian church by Constantine. It has since been adored with all the homage due only to God.
The Tau Cross is:

An emblem of immortality and life

A phallic symbol

A pagan symbol of the mystic Tau of the Chaldeans

A pagan symbol of the Egyptians

A pagan symbol of Mithras, the Roman God

A pagan symbol of Attis, the Greek God

A pagan symbol of Tammuz, the Sumerian solar god, consort of the goddess Ishtar

Located the place where pagans worshipped crucified saviors hanging on a cross (Tertullian)

The cross symbol pre-dates Christianity and goes back to a very remote period of human civilization. Various authorities linked the Cross with nature worship and pagan sex rites.

The cross is found in both pre-Christian and non-Christian cultures.New Catholic Encyclopedia

8'Tau Cross' has 4 Corners

The Tau Cross (T-shaped) was chosen for its 4 Corners.

After 300 years, the Cross was chosen as the preferred Christian religious symbol as it was a shape with 4 corners.

The Cross has 4 corners

The observance of the "Crossing" and resurrection of the Sun (Sun-God) at the Vernal Equinox (Easter) uses the 4 seasons

Irenaeus, a 2nd century bishop of Lyon in Roman Gaul believed the number 4 to be important

Irenaeus declared the 4 gospels (Mark, Matthew, Luke, John). He reasoned their were 4 directions, 4 winds and so their should be 4 gospels

The Tree (Crux Simplex) has two corners, and so was not a suitable symbol

9Constantine loved the 'Tau Cross'

Constantine had the vision of the Tau Cross.

In 312 AD, Constantine's famous vision of "the Cross superimposed on the Sun" is cited as the key life event which persuaded him into choosing the Cross as the official Christian religious symbol.
From thereon, historical evidence proves Constantine merged various other pagan Sun-God worship practises into the Christian doctrine.

10Usage of the Tau Cross

1. Sunday Sabbath
In 321 AD, Sunday was designated as the "venerable day of the Sun", as the edict read, is proof of Constantine's continued allegiance to Sol Invictus the Sun-God.

2. Monetary Currency
The Sun-God worship by Constantine can be evidenced through the use of images of the Sun-deity on coins that were issued by him up to the year 323 AD.

Even after 314 AD. the coins of Constantine show an even-armed cross as a symbol for the Sun-GodJohannes Geffcken, The Last Days of Greco-Roman Paganism, p.319

3. Baptism
During baptism ceremonies, the cross was marked on the foreheads by the pagan priest.

4. Conversion
Even after converting to Christianity, Constantine continued to worship the Sun-God and its symbol, the cross. Many scholars doubted Constantine's "conversion to Christianity" as he continued his wicked deeds and requested to be baptized on his death-bed years later in 337 AD.

5. Bible
The "Sun-God and Cross" vision which Constantine had is not mentioned in the Bible.

1119th Century Views

Writers during the 19th century acknowledged the pagan origin of the Cross. Consequently, their writings reflected the 'paganism' that had crept into Christianity:

Of medieval images of monsters: "The disembodied phallus is also formed into a cross, which, before it became for Christianity the symbol of salvation, was a pagan symbol of fertility" David Williams

Crosses were used as symbols of the Babylonian Sun-God. It should be stated that Constantine was a Sun-God worshipper. The evidence is thus complete, that the Lord was put to death upon an upright stake, and not on two pieces of timber placed at any angle. Dr Bullinger, in the Companion Bible, appx. 162

The cross was used by worshipers of Tammuz, an Ancient Near East deity of Babylonian origin who had the cross-shaped taw (tau) as his symbol. W.E. Vine Conservapedia

This Pagan symbol. The Tau, the sign of the cross, the indisputable sign of Tammuz, the false Messiah, the mystic Tau of the Cladeans (Babylonians) and Egyptians - the true original form of the letter T the initial of the name of Tammuz. the Babylonian cross was the recognised emblem of Tammuz. Rev Alexander Hislop, The Two Babylons, pp. 197-205

The Teutonic (Germanic) tribes had their idol Thor, symbolised by a hammer. The Roman Christians had their crux (cross). It was thus somewhat easier for the Teutons to accept the Roman Cross.Jacob Grimm, in his Deutsche Mythologie

12Bible Condemns Cross/Idolatory

Devotion to any pagan symbol is clearly condemned in the Bible.

Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?
2Corinthians 6:16

You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me
Exodus 20:4-5

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Exodus 20:4-5

If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole, you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God's curse.
Deuteronomy 21:22-23

This verse clearly refers to a stake, not a Cross. Since such a means of execution made the person "a curse,". It is wrong for Christians today to decorate their homes with images of Jesus on a Cross.

13Quran Condemns Crucifixion

Muslims believe Jesus was not crucified. God saved him and raised him up. Instead, a man 'like' Jesus was crucified in his place. Some Muslims believe, Jesus may have been put on the Cross, but did not actually die as a result of the crucifixion. Islam allows for both interpretations.

And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah ." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.
Quran 4:157

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Say, We believe in God and what was sent down to us, and what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, and what was given to Moses, Jesus and all the Prophets by their Lord
Quran 2:136

Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me
John 14:6

Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I
John 14:28

The Creator of the heavens and the earth. He has made for you mates from yourselves, and for the cattle (also) mates. By this means He creates you (in the wombs)
Quran 42:11

O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians): Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah
Quran 3:64

I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me
John 5:30

Indeed, We have revealed to you, (O Muhammad), as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him. And we revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Descendants, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the book (of Psalms)
Quran 4:163

Blessed be He Who has placed in the heaven big stars, and has placed therein a great lamp (sun), and a moon giving light. And He it is Who has put the night and the day in succession
Quran 25:61

He (Jesus) Himself stood in their midst and said to them, Peace be to you
Luke 24:36

O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of God. Indeed, God forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful
Quran 39: 53

Indeed, man is in loss, except those who have faith and do righteous deeds, and advise one another to truth and patience
Quran 103:1-3

The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord
Mark 12:29

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God
John 20:17

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
John 13:16

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind
Matthew 22:37

By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
John 5:30

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
John 5:19

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 7:21

Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me
Isaiah 49:9

In accordance with Islamic etiquette, all prophet names should be followed with 'Peace Be Upon Him (PBUH)'. This is omitted to keep text content minimal.

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